/i 






Oh! Tell Me Why 



OR, 



Glimpses of Man's Origin, Use 
AND Destiny. 



Hiram Smith. 



NORWICH : 

BULLETIN PRINT, 172 MAIN STREET, 

1871. 



r^■^ 'J 75 » i. 



Entered according to act of Congress, in tbe year 1871 by 

Hie AM Smith, 
in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



To THE Public. 



Deak Fkiends : 

I am happy in being the one to present to you this 
little envelope, with its contents. 'It contains truthful 
hints of the uses of life and death, that will be new to mil- 
lions, and will afford consolation to many bruised and 
aching hearts. I would counsel that no time be wasted 
in criticising the crumpled wrapper that contains for 
you I'ich gems of real wealth. 

Make no display of talent, or learning, in thoughtless 
remarks upon the style, or fit of tbe post-man's dusty 
coat, when he brings you letters containing good news 
and glad tidings. Prejudice is your enemy, as it is mine , 
Its intent is harm to all, and good to none. It meets no 
entertainment, or favor, in the highest circles of intelli- 
gence. Whoever has done with prejudice is truly born 
again, and is not far from heaven. Justice is the most 
comprehensive term in all language. It embodies and 
expresses all that is good in the limitless universe. Its 
misssion is, good to all and harm to none. Cruelty and 
revenge are as abhorrent to justice as to mercy. Justice 
and mercy are one in action, ever in harmony, never op- 
posite to each other. The young and iu experienced are 
taught that justice is an inexorable savage, but in the 
light of riper years and superior vision this error, and 
all others, like infancy, will pass away. Eighteovisness is 
the practice of justice. Justice is the friend of aU. It 
is good to be just, and it is just to be good. 

HIKAM SMITH, 
Norwich, Conn. 



Dh ! Jell M.e Why. 



tell me why bright flowers are fading ? 
Tell me why the ripe leaves fall ? — 

Means it good in guise of shading ? 
Or means it harm to each and all ? 

Tell me why were my loved ones taken — 
Those I love so much, so well — 

Why am I with sorrow shaken ? 
Tell ! teU me, who can tell ? 

"With tear-filled eyes I gazed above me, 
And did ask in sorrow's tone : 

Why are those I love that love me 
Gone, and left me sad and lone ? 

1 asked a reverend — important seeming — 
But he knew nothing more than I. 

His words were few, with little meaning — 
He groaned aloud, and breathed a sigh. 

I asked the day at early dawning, 
When in its golden robes arrayed : 

Its only answer, was a lovely morning 
With beauty here and there displayed. 



GLIMPSES OF man's ORIGIN, 



I asked the sun iu its liigh noon glory, 
When in its strength and grandeur dres't : 

And it bowed low, and lower slowly, 
And hid its face down in the west. 

This life, thought I, is a Hfe of sorrow, 
The bright, the lovely pass away ; 

I thought not then of a brighter morrow, 
I only thought of the present day. 

The sun had gone, and sad and dreary 
The twinkling stars looked down on me ; 

My heart grew sick, my hmbs were weary. 
And I sighed from sorrow to be free. 

My eyelids closed and sleep came o'er me, 
A light shone down from the blue above, 

Bright beings came and stood before me — 
I knew them, they were those I love. 

Foremost stood my kind, good mother 
In the youth and health of immortal life. 

Near her, smiling, stood another — 
She was my gentle, angel wife. 

There, too, stood our three dear children — 
Once a source of heartfelt joy — 

Mary Esther, Angeline, and Owen — 
Our noble, rose-cheeked, only boy. 



USE AND DESTINY. 



Their faultless forms and liappy bearing ; 

Their life immortal — no more to die — 
Filled me with joy there is no describing, 

And swept the tear-drops from ray eye. 

Our boy theji spoke in tones of sweetness, 
His face all radiant with love divine, 

For he had grown to rare completeness 
In the influence of the spirits' cHme. 

He said: "you little knew, my father — 

Parent of my earthly life — 
Nor did she, then, my angel mother, 

Your gentle, patient, faithful wife: 

" You little knew your earthly mission 
"Was raising buds for future bloom 

When they had passed from earth's possession 
To the spirit land, the angels' home." 

And such is life on an earthly planet 

In all the universe for good, 
To elevate from lowly granite 

A higher Hfe than flesh and blood. 

All life, however low in nature 
Is moving in the grand procession 

Toward the human, and the future 
Will account for its progression. 



GLIMPSES OF MAN'S ORIGIN, 



Onward through the human, upward 

To completest type and form, 
TJnfoldment is the inspiring watchword. 

Until the angel's life is born. 

Humans are not a first creation, 

Their steps trace up through lower forms. 
And they are a near relation 

Of fowls and fishes, insects and worms. 

See the habits of the infant human, 

Its movements first are a worm-like squirm : 

Next it attempts a locomotion. 

To crawl at full length, like a worm. 

Later, and you see it creeping 

On all-fours, like the creeping things ; 

Later still, erect and walking. 

Feebly at first, sustained by things. 

Man comes up from weakest childhood, 
Though a mystery, we see 'tis so. 

So all superior types of self-hood 
Come from inferior types below. 

Even man's dress, for use and beauty, 
Has been by humblest creatures wore, 

By fowl and fur-tribe, goat and donkey, 
By sheep and silk-worms, long before. 



USE AND DESTINY. . 9 

Small minds are proud in cast-off clothing. 
Though torn from brutes with cruel hand, 

And view their pride with shame and loathing 
When their little minds expand. 

Humans are buds of higher being, 
Green and dark on life's tree setting ; 

Each opening bud an angel freeing 
Ready for higher missions getting. 

In the bud we see the coming flower : 
In tlie flower we see the coming fruit ; 

In the child we see man's coming power : 
Next below the angel, next above the brute. 

Humans are part what they have been, 
And part what they are going to be ; 

They have been, brute ; will be angel when 
From brutal influence they are free. ^ 

Each brutal trait throughout all nature, 

Like infancy, will pass away ; 
Their uses need them not forever. 

Their mission 's done, they cease to be. 

All 's for the best in nature's working 

In all its wondrous, vast domain. 
In each event performing something 

For the good of all, their greatest gain. 



10 GLIMPSES OF MAN'S ORIGIN, 

Time is eternal it had no beginning, 
Its rolling years can never cease-' 

Planets from Wisdom's hand are spinning 
By countless millions, in endless space.' 

These mighty orbs all have their mission 

Of use and beanty to fultill • 
Orbs and atoms know no digression 

In their obedience to Wisdom's will. 

All's for the best; be all confiding. 
Wisdom works not without its plan : 

Every orb and atom guiding 
For the greatest good to every man. 

Planets, like humans, have their childhood 
Our earth is in its child-like years 

As children on their way to manhood. 
So planets to their superior spheres'. 

Planets, hke humans, have their parents- 
Parental suns from which they come 

Our earth is one, in our solar system 
Of other children of the sun. 

Observe the sun, how parent-hke 
It guides among its offspring spheres 

Providing life, and health, and light ' 
Prom comet babyhood to sun-r!pe years. 



USE AND DESTINY. 11 

All should know our earth is greater 

Thau it was centuries ago ; 
The rough more smooth, the crooked straighter— 

Earths, like humans, progress and grow. 

When planets have, by their progression, 
To their full strength and stature grown 

The}'- move away to their attraction 
In fields of space, to make their home. 

And while time folds the centuries, 

And tiles them in the past away, 
Suns rear their planet families 

To people space eternally. 

Each planet bears upon its bosom 

Varied grades of life divine : 
In the brute and human it is bud and blossom. 

And fruit in the angel, in the angels' clime. 

In the angels' home no tears are starting, 
None say they are sick forever more, 

No hearts made sad by friends at parting — 
Friends not lost, but gone before. 

None would mourn the loss of meeting 
Their loved ones in their earthly home, 

If they knew the joyous greeting 

Their loves will give them when they come 



12 GLIMPSES OF man's ORIGIN, 

Where sorrowing hearts no more are breaking. 

Where the weary find their rest. 
Where sick heads no more are aching, 

Where, each and all, are truly blest. 

All 's for the best ; bright worlds are near you — 

This is no poetic dream ; 
Your spirit-friends still love and cheer you. 

They are not as distant as they seem. 

All 's for the best ; avoid repining. 

Prom the least to the greatest, all should know 
Above the clouds the sun is shining 

With love and smiles for all below. 

Life's changes all are ordered wisely ; 

They mean improvements, every one ; 
They fit the Infinite's plan precisely, 

From a falling hair to a rising sun. 

Through fife's changing circumstances, 

All should keep an even mind ; 
There are no accidents, no chances — 

All things by Wisdom are designed. 

All 's for the best ; heed not surmises, 
The future this great truth will show ; 

Earth's ills are all but thin disguises. 
Like bubbles soon to burst and go. 



USE AND DESTINY. 13 



Would you be wise ? then learu of nature 

Nature, ever just and true ; 
The only sure, unselfish teacher — 

Safe to trust with such as you. 

Learn of nature her highest uses ; 

Learn the use of death and life ; 
Learn to shun those strange abuses 

That confound us in their strife. 

Life is soul of vast infinity, 
Its fullest use itself must tell : 

Life is in truth itself the Deity ; 
It doeth all things, and doeth well. 

Death is life's servant — allwise its uses — 
Love and wisdom its guide and power. 

Fear and folly are strange abuses . 
That afflict each mortal's hour. 

Learn the uses of progression 
From a low to a higher plane : 

'Till all have reached their highest station, 
They must yet be born again. 



14 GLIMPSES OP man's ORIGIN, 

Behold the transformation power ! 

The worm — a crawling, loathsome thing, 
So changed, it flits from flower to flower. 

With gaily decorated wing. 

Humans, like worms, will feel this power 

"With capabilities greater far ; 
Like butterflies, from flower to flower, 

As angels they from star to star. 

Poor humans, worn with care and years 
Will meet in death the friend that bringi 

Release from pain, disease and tears. 
And angel-bodies with their wings. 



The blushing flowers, in their completeness 
Exhale their welcome fragrance round, 

'Till they exhaust their store of sweetness, 
And tiny leaves bestrew the ground. 

Learn well the good in their removal. 
For on the self same pendant stems 

Rich fruits appear, and our approval 
Finds richer far than diamond gems. 



USE AND DESTINY. 15 



By this we learn, that throughout nature 
When what we love has been removed, 

'Tis done to be returned in future 
Far more perfected and improved. 

Things are not now what they are seeming: 
Pursuit of pleasure brings us pain. 

We find reversed our fondest dreaming, 
When we awake, and see things plain. 

It may be true that all deception 
Hides rich veins of truth below, 

And when approached by close inspection. 
The false is gone, and the true will show. 

Mourn not because spring-flowers are fading; 

They fade that autumn fruits may come. 
There are no ills that are not aiding 

Good to all, and harm to none. 

Youth fades away like a summer flower, 
To bring us ripened manhood's prime ; 

Manhood exchanges its little hour 
For fadeless youth and life divine. 

Wisdom unfolds the flowers in spring-time. 
And bids the ripe leaves in autumn die : 

Wisdom brings both storm and sunshine, 
And has its own good reasons why. 



16 GLIMPSES OF .man's ORIGIN, 

Be not saddened at the ripe leaves falling ; 

Be cheerful though your idols fade ; 
'Tis Infinite "Wisdom's way of calhng 

G-reater blessings to your aid. 

Wisdom the good of all enfolds, 

Their every need its goodness knows ; 

It blesses in that its hand withholds 
As much as in what its hand bestows. 

The same wise power that builds the daisies 
Contrived the useful human hand. 

Its wisest uses are the praises — 
All that Wisdom can demand. 

What Wisdom cousels to perform. 

Or warns so faithfully to shun. 
Pursue, till each success is born. 

Pursue, till victories are won. 

Choose pleasures plain, and weak like water- 
Pleasures are fruitful seeds of pain. 

Choose them with your highest nature, 
Or the loss is great, and small the gain. 

See the water, clear as crystal. 

Without color, taste, or smell, 
Dripping from its oaken vessel. 

Cool refreshments at the well. 



USE AND DESTINY. 17 

Commence just uow, wait not, till later — 
What you should do, do with your might 

And happiness, as indicator, 

Is ever yours when wise and right. 

Learn of nature and be wiser ; 

Dispense as free as fragrant flowers 
And be far richer than the raiser. 

Or all combined of purse-proud powers. 

Price not your life with gold and coupons, 

For sure will come a future day, 
When health, wealth, fame, and dearly loved ones, 

Like leaves and flowers will pass away. 

Trust not man as a faultless teacher, 

He has forfeited the claim. 
Trust only faithful, truthful nature. 

She never errs, or cheats for gain. 

Man for gold will sell his brother, 
And bind him with a slaver's chain ; 

For gold forsake his faithful mother, 
And then forsake himself for shame. 

For gold he'll be the widow's counsel ; 

For gold consign her to her shroud ; 
For gold speak for her on the platform^ 

Or pick her pocket in the crowd. 



18 GLIMPSES OF man's ORIGIN, 

For gold, will sell you brilliant chances 

To a world of perfect bliss ; 
For gold, deprive yon, e'en of glances 

Of your liappiness in this. 

Fear not, truth will fail you never, 
Banish the weak, distrusting sigh ; 

Error cannot live forever; 

Truth is immortal and cannot die. 

Take fresh courage and awaken 

Through all your trials, toil and strife ; 

Keep an even mind unshaken, 
It is the magic staff of life. 

As you'd be done to by another, 

Do you even so to all : 
To meet in each an angel lover. 

As countless centuries onward roll. 



The clam, low in its sand-bed dwelling 
Knows not of worlds of life above ; 

So man, 'till high unfoldments tell him, 
Knows not his endless life of love. 



USE AND DESTINY. 19 

Knows not a life of endless gladness 
Where tears will dim his eyes no more ; 

No more his heart depres't with sadness, 
His cup of bliss seem running o'er. 

See a mother in her sorrow, 

When she feels her hour has come, 

See her rejoicing on the morrow 
That an immortal soul is born. 

She knows not now its deep laid meaning, 
Will not, perhaps, 'till higher spheres 

Unfold a bright angelic being, 

Born of her in her earth-life years. 

'Tis thus we fear and shrink from dying, 

Or rather from being born again ; 
And like the mother, sad and sighing. 

Fear the mystery and dread the pain. 

But, joy ! when all is over. 

When our angel-life has come, 
Banished fear and dread forever. 

Found our long, long wished for home. 



20 



GLIMPSES OF man's ORIGIN. 



And when your brief days' sun is setting 
Calm in the west of your earth-life's sky, 

You shall meet your loved ones, joyous waiting, 
To welcome you, and tell you why. 



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